The Darkest Unicorn

Some bad unicorns steal away magic, and some steal away precious memories. There are even some that steal away people - and those are possibly the most dangerous unicorns of all. In the usually peaceful city of Arvale, people are going missing. Men, women - even children. The palace makes an urgent decree: all royal subjects must abide by a strict curfew for their own safety. But for Thandie and her friends, a curfew means more adventure. They dare each other to sneak about the city at night - although Thandie is the only one brave enough to actually do it. One night, as an eerie fog sets in, Thandie is startled by a strange boy - a boy she's never seen before. He looks about her age but there's something unsettling about him, leaving Thandie to wonder if he's someone she should trust. Little does she know that this meeting will force her life wildly off-track, pushing her towards an unexpected danger and a fearsome unicorn who is at the very heart of the terrible disappearances she's heard so much about.

A magical unicorn fairy tale filled with adventure, enchantment and a fight like no other... In a faraway kingdom, two girls live completely different lives. They've never met, but they have been bound together since birth. Danger, mystery and enchanted unicorns await them. Their story began once upon a time. But how will it end?

From Alice Hemming, the bestselling author of THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN, comes a brand-new unicorn fairytale. In the faraway kingdom of Elithia, a powerful king holds the throne, with ten Royal Knights under his trusted command. Fearsome warriors and talented fighters, the knights are led by Samara, the most exceptional of them all. Samara's brother, Hero, also works for the king, and his role as the king's advisor gives him a privilege unrivalled by most. So when he falls ill, the king sends for the wisest healers in the kingdoms. Many healers answer his call, but none are able to discover the reason for Hero's failing health. In desperation, Samara seeks out a wizard called Ardis who practices dark magic. Ardis promises Samara the chance to save her brother's life, but the cost is her soul. When Samara refuses, Ardis curses her in rage. Weaving his magic, he forces Samara to take the form of a unicorn and Samara becomes an outcastÜand a legend: the Cursed Unicorn becomes well-known in the surrounding kingdoms, though where the unicorn came from nobody could say. Will Samara remain a unicorn forever, or will she break the magic that traps her? Her story started once upon a time, but who knows how it will end...

During yet another cruel winter, Violet's True Love, Nicolas, goes missing. Could the old stories of an evil unicorn be true? And so Violet leaves all behind and begins a challenging quest to find Nicolas, encountering comfort and help along the way, but will she succeed in time?

An evil king, a fearsome warrior, a fight for freedom. If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for?For Marie, that dream becomes a reality when she stumbles across a magical unicorn deep in the forest. But when Marie - who is kind and trusting in nature - surrenders her wishes to her cruel father, he enslaves the unicorn with a demand for never-ending wishes.Years later, the Kingdom of Quessia has slowly fallen into poverty and ruin under the rein of King Jacob. A spiteful and careless king, Jacob is disliked by all of his subjects, but little does he know that a revolution threatening his throne and his life lies just around the corner...Will King Jacob keep the Blazing Unicorn enslaved forever and retain his throne? And will Marie ever be able to right the wrongs of her past?

Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series! Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call. Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.

It’s the epic battle of brains against manes. Which side are you on? It’s a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? This all-original anthology edited by Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie) makes strong arguments for both sides in the form of spectacular short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths—for good and evil—of unicorns, and half show the good (and really, really badass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?